Purpose and Need

The red king crab stock around Kodiak Island peaked in 1965, with landings of 94 million pounds, and then declined and remained at moderately low levels though the 1970's. No fishery has been allowed since 1982 in an attempt to rebuild the stock. While the cause for the decline of red king crab is not known, most researchers believe the decline can be attributed to a variety factors including overfishing, fish predation on king crab, and a warmer ocean environment. Fishery managers have enacted measures to provide an environment conducive to the recovery of the red king crab stock by minimizing impacts from other fisheries.

Designed to protect Kodiak red king crab, trawl closure areas were implemented as Amendment 15 in 1997 with a 3-year sunset. These closure areas were renewed as Amendment 18, which became effective in 1990. These restrictions were considered necessary because of the poor condition of the king crab resource off Kodiak and because trawl bycatch and mortality rates are highest during the spring months when king crab migrate inshore for reproduction. The molting period off Kodiak begins around February 15 and ends by June 15. Because Amendment 18 also had a 3-year sunset, the management measure was scheduled to expire at the end of 1992. The purpose of this amendment was to renew these closure areas to protect red king crab.

Analysis

An 18-page EA/RIR (final draft dated September 14, 1992) was prepared for this amendment. Three alternatives including the status quo were considered. Under the status quo alternative, the time/area closures would have expired at the end of 1992. The other alternative not chosen would have extended the closures for another three years.  The alternative adopted made these closures permanent.

Regulation Summary

The regulation made the provisions of Amendment 18 permanent. The Council designated Type I, Type II and Type III areas for special bottom trawl restrictions to protect king crab. Type I areas have very high king crab concentrations and, to promote rebuilding of the crab stocks, are closed all year to all trawling except with pelagic gear. Type II areas have lower crab concentrations and are only closed to non-pelagic gear from February 15 through June 15. Type III areas are adjacent to Type I and II areas and have been identified as important juvenile king crab rearing or migratory areas. Type III areas become operational following a determination that a "recruitment event" has occurred. The Regional Administrator will classify the expanded Type III area as either Type I or II, depending on the information available. A "recruitment event" is defined as the appearance of female king crab in substantially increased numbers (when the total number of females estimated for a given district equals the number of females established as a threshold criterion for opening that district to commercial crab fishing). A recruitment event closure will continue until a commercial crab fishery opens for that district or the number of crabs drops below the threshold level for that district.

The Alitak Flats/Towers and Marmot Flats areas are Type I areas, closed to non-pelagic trawls all year. Chirikof Island and Barnabas are Type II areas, closed to non-pelagic trawls from February 15 to June 15. These areas encompass 80% to 90% of the known female king crab stocks.

When Type III areas are closed by regulatory amendment, the Regional Administrator will specify which of the Type III areas are closed and whether the closure is for an entire year or only a portion of a year.

Results

Since the amendment was approved, GOA king crab stocks in the vicinity of Kodiak Island remain depressed. The last strong year class produced was in 1973-74. Recent surveys have failed to detect signs of rebuilding. In 2002, Amendment 60 implemented bottom trawl closures to protect red king and Tanner crab stocks in Cook Inlet, and in 2014, Amendment 89 implemented a bottom trawl closure to provide additional protection to Tanner crab and benthic habitat around Kodiak Island.